Gibson Falls

RATING - 44.0

VR - 3.6 (Sm/M) HR - 5.0 SR - 16/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - Suiattle River Road

TYPE - Segmented

HEIGHT - 108'

WIDTH - 50'

GPS - N48 15.288 W121 19.976

ELEVATION - 1337'

DIRECTIONS - Drive north of Darrington or south of Rockport on Highway 530 and turn onto Suiattle River Road. In about 10 miles, turn right and cross over the Boundary Bridge onto FR 25. Follow this for about 2 miles and take a left at the junction with FR 27. The road ends in about 3 miles. Park and cross Circle Creek. Follow the old road for 1/2 a mile to the creek. Gibson Falls is located a couple hundred feet upstream from the road and can be seen and heard from the road.

Gibson Creek splits in two and drops over two, side-by-side fan shaped waterfalls in a very dark grotto containing some rather large cedar trees. The two segments are very similar in appearance and create a sublimely attractive waterfall. The volume of the creek is fairly small so towards the end of the summer this one may lose much of its luster and the right segment could even dry out completely.

The trip into Gibson Falls is fairly easy, but the crossing of Circle Creek can be tricky for younger hikers.